Now the pressure is on Jeff Klein.

As the head of New York’s Independent Democratic Caucus in the State Senate, Klein could have chosen to throw his group’s support behind either Republicans or Democrats and ensure majority rule for either party.

The case for Democrats: (1) Klein is a Democrat. (2) Klein is from and represents the Bronx, which is so overwhelmingly Democratic that Republicans often run candidates who don’t know they are running until their names show up on ballots. (3) More than 90 percent of Bronx voters voted for Barack Obama, a Democrat. (4) Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans more than 2 to 1 in New York State. (5) Despite obvious GOP gerrymandering, Democrats appear to outnumber Republicans in the Senate (though final tallies for two upstate races are still to be determined).

The case for Republicans: (1) Republicans love Klein so much they drew him a district that swept through the Bronx like a heat-seeking missile in search of every white vote in the borough. (2) Klein immediately becomes one of the four most powerful politicians in Albany. (3) (Still thinking…)

Klein, of course, chose to side with Republicans.

In a joint statement with Republican Majority Leader Dean Skelos (they are calling the new leadership arrangement “Skleinos”), Klein said the agreement will “allow the Senate to continue pushing New York State forward, while ensuring that there will be no returning to the failed leadership of the past.”

That last line is a direct hit on Democrats during their largely unsuccessful two-year stint back in control of the Senate after four decades of Republican rule. Democrats rightfully place much of the blame for that debacle on former Bronx Senator and convicted felon Pedro Espada.

But the failed leadership and dysfunction in Albany goes back much farther than the last time Democrats controlled the Senate. Espada certainly drove the body deeper, and more publicly, into dysfunction than ever before, but Republicans played a large role in Albany’s paralysis for years before he arrived on the scene.

It appears voters (and/or federal prosecutors) weeded out the bad apples like Espada and, through the power of the ballot box, Democrats were poised to take another crack at leading the Senate.

Before the votes were counted, however, Klein made his move. It gives him more power than ever before and a chance to make a huge impact. But will it benefit Bronxites?

Klein says it’s all about policy and being productive. And yes, the legislature was more productive during the last two years under Republicans, than the previous two years under Democrats. But that agenda was driven by Governor Andrew Cuomo, a moderate Democrat, not Republicans. Their biggest win was passing gay marriage, a progressive issue. And that productivity noticeably slowed this year.

Klein’s position will bring more resources to his office and more clout for the Bronx, but how will it play out legislatively?

He says he’s committed to pushing progressive bills onto the floor, including legislation that would raise the state’s minimum wage, which languished last year in the GOP-controlled Senate.  The hike would go a long way toward helping Bronxites. The Bronx is woefully under-employed, meaning many in the borough have jobs that don’t pay them enough to pay their bills. The Bronx needs a mandated wage hike.

We don’t doubt that a minimum wage bill will come to the floor in 2013. But what will it look like? Will it be tied to inflation, as Democrats have pushed for and would allow workers in those jobs to better keep pace with the cost of living? Or will it be a one-time hike, which Republicans would prefer, that will be outdated in two years?

Once again, Klein will have to decide what side he’s on. And we’ll be watching.